PANJIM/MAPUSA: Maharashtra Leader of Opposition and BJP election observer Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday morning rushed to Ports Minister Michael Lobo’s residence following a tussle between the latter and PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar during the legislature party meeting on Monday night.
According to party sources, the incident took place in a starred hotel where Fadnavis was to address the party’s legislature wing. Before Fadnavis could reach the hall, Lobo and Pauskar entered into heated arguments over the issue of transfer of a PWD junior engineer.
Lobo wanted the transfer of the junior engineer to be cancelled while, Pauskar requested him to wait for few more days to do the needful. But Lobo lost his cool and allegedly abused Pauskar much to the surprise of other colleagues.
In fire-fighting mode, Fadnavis on Tuesday morning rushed to Lobo’s residence at Parra in a bid to pacify him.
After meeting Lobo, Fadnavis said, “I have been meeting all the MLAs and having one-to-one communication to understand the situation and strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections. Since Michael Lobo is one of the senior leaders, this meet was to understand the same.”
Lobo said during the meeting, he told Fadnavis that his wife Delilah wishes to contest from Siolim constituency. However, Fadnavis said the party high command will take the decision.
“When the time comes, Delilah will declare on which party ticket she is going to contest the ensuing elections,” Lobo said.
The Ports Minister further disclosed that Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal is trying to meet him, but he had not yet given him an appointment. “AAP needs to select good candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. AAP needs a face for which they are approaching many sitting MLAs from both, BJP and Congress,” Lobo said.
